Islamic State adapt Grand Theft Auto game into ‘virtual jihad’ recruitment drive for kids

EXECUTIONS in the streets. Gun-battles against American special forces. A ‘virtual jihad’ has been launched by the Islamic State through a popular video game.

EXECUTIONS in the streets. Gun-battles against American special forces. A ‘virtual jihad’ has been launched by the Islamic State through a popular video game.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, a 2004 game which sold more than 27 million copies worldwide, has been filtered through the hands of Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL, IS) propagandists to set the scene of its holy Sunni warriors waging war against the world.

Or at least it could be. Only the trailer has been released so far.

Execution ... Pulling police from their cars and shooting them while on the ground is one of the clips contained in the Islamic State promotional video.

Given the title Grand Theft Auto: Salil al-Sawarem (sound of swords clashing), the first-person “shooter” game is reportedly being promoted by the Islamic State to “raise the morale of the mujahidin and to train children and youth how to battle the West and to strike terror into the hearts of those who oppose the Islamic State.”

Players adopt the character of a bandanna-clad jihadist fighter wearing the group’s iconic black shirt and camo pants.

The battlefield is a barren landscape, strewn with rubble, wreckage and rocks.

Targets include police, army convoys and patrols.

Urban warfare ... It’s jihadist versus US special forces in Grand Theft Auto: Salil al-Sawarem.

The assault rifle comes as standard, as does the black-and-white Islamic State battle flag.

The YouTube video trailer’s fervent message is clear: Through self-sacrifice and righteous faith, America’s attempt to “degrade and destroy” the Islamic State would be overwhelmed.

Middle East editor of gaming news website IGN toldAl Arabiya News the “easy and consequence-free” video trailer, released late last week, was aimed at a young audience.

“What I also fear aside from the terrifying consequences of what this video could do, is the media barking up the ‘video games is wrong for children’ chant once again,” he said.

Lone wolf ... A screen capture from the Islamic State ‘virtual jihad’ video game trailer.